G. Schirmer Two Christmas Ballads (For Mixed Chorus and Piano or Amplified Guitar) SATB composed by Kirke Mechem

Beautiful poems by American poets Sara Teasdale and Phyllis McGinley, each telling a very human Christmas story. Teasdale's Carol contrasts the magnificence of the songs of angels and kings with the baby Jesus, who fell asleep before the song was done. McGinley's Ballad is a retelling of the ancient legend of Befana the Housewife, always too busy to greet the new-born babe until it is too late. The Choral Journal called these two pieces brilliant choral writing...enthusiastically recommended...